---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ive heard people say that the older you…"
description: "\"Ive heard people say that the older you get, the less you understand. In your youth you have that confidence, sort of blind confidence which allows you..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/ben-stiller-7406_confidence_ive-heard-people-say-that-the-older-you_2440497.jpg"
---

#  Ive heard people say that the older you get, the less you…

![“Ive heard people say that the older you get, the less you understand. In your youth you have that confidence, sort of blind confidence which allows you to take chances and do things you might not do when youre older because you know better.” quote by Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/ben-stiller-7406_confidence_ive-heard-people-say-that-the-older-you_2440497.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/ben-stiller-7406_confidence_ive-heard-people-say-that-the-older-you_2440497.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/ben-stiller-7406_confidence_ive-heard-people-say-that-the-older-you_2440497.jpg)

> “Ive heard people say that the older you get, the less you understand. In your youth you have that confidence, sort of blind confidence which allows you to take chances and do things you might not do when youre older because you know better.”

[Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Youthful confidence allows risk-taking despite limited experience; aging brings caution that can limit bold actions.

**In simple terms:** Youthful confidence enables risk; age brings caution.

Key Takeaway

Balance confidence with wisdom.

Themes

confidence risk age growth wisdom

Mood

hopeful reflective

Type

advice inspirational

When to use this quote

- career decisions
- entrepreneurship
- personal relationships
- creative projects

Key Concepts

developmental psychology risk assessment lifelong learning

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you retain youthful daring while aging?
- What strategies keep confidence alive over time?

A Different Perspective

Excessive caution may stifle innovation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/)

## Related quotes

> [I was not addicted to stealing in my youth, nor have ever been; yet such was the confidence of the Negroes in the neighborhood,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-turner/i-was-not-addicted-to-stealing-in-my-youth-nor-have-ever-been-yet/)

[Nat Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-turner/)

> [If when youre young you only knew, if when youre older you still could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-estienne/if-when-youre-young-you-only-knew-if-when-youre-older-you-still-could/)

Henri Estienne

> [Stop considering the same things youve always done as the only options there are. Its unlikely that one of the things youll regret when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-considering-the-same-things-youve-always-done-as-the-only/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“..some things were better, some were worse, and the only way one can ever learn to understand one's own youth is by accepting both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/some-things-were-better-some-were-worse-and-the-only-way-one-can-ever/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [As long as any adult thinks that he, like the parents and teachers of old, can become introspective, invoking his own youth to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/as-long-as-any-adult-thinks-that-he-like-the-parents-and-teachers-of/)

[Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/)

> [I don't like rap that you can't understand. The youth is so quick and alert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-ayers/i-don-t-like-rap-that-you-can-t-understand-the-youth-is-so-quick-and/)

[Roy Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-ayers/)

> [Our duty is to understand youth, but more, to help them understand themselves that they may release their varied abilities... We must help them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrietta-mears/our-duty-is-to-understand-youth-but-more-to-help-them-understand/)

[Henrietta Mears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrietta-mears/)

> [As the population is, in general, aging, there is more interest in what a 50-year-old, a 60-year-old, a 70-year-old, an 80-year-old is like. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-nixon/as-the-population-is-in-general-aging-there-is-more-interest-in-what/)

[Cynthia Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-nixon/)

> [We have all been rebels without causes and I think as you grow older, you understand that you can't have a knee-jerk response in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-batra/we-have-all-been-rebels-without-causes-and-i-think-as-you-grow-older/)

[Pooja Batra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja-batra/)

> [Parents, they're strict on you when you're little, and you don't understand why. But as you get older, you understand and you appreciate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-hill/parents-they-re-strict-on-you-when-you-re-little-and-you-don-t/)

[Grant Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-hill/)

> [My mom used to tell me, 'I live every day of my life for you.' I understand that now. The older I get, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hines-ward/my-mom-used-to-tell-me-i-live-every-day-of-my-life-for-you-i/)

[Hines Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hines-ward/)

> [I am sure as I grow older I will understand more about my own feelings and how to put them in a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tolcher/i-am-sure-as-i-grow-older-i-will-understand-more-about-my-own/)

[Michael Tolcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tolcher/)

> [Now that I'm older, I understand that it's up to the individual to decide who they are or what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-somerville/now-that-i-m-older-i-understand-that-it-s-up-to-the-individual-to/)

[Jimmy Somerville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-somerville/)

> [In all honesty, as you grow older, you understand how important it is to give everything in every workout, training session and match. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jozy-altidore/in-all-honesty-as-you-grow-older-you-understand-how-important-it-is/)

[Jozy Altidore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jozy-altidore/)

> [The older I get, the more I understand that the only way to say valuable things is to lose your fear of being correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-understand-that-the-only-way-to-say/)

[Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/)

## More by Ben Stiller

> [I don't think know if anything's going to translate anywhere. You're making a movie, you hope it's going to be funny, you can't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-don-t-think-know-if-anything-s-going-to-translate-anywhere-you-re/)

[Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/)

> [I studied Tom Cruise running in all the Mission Impossibles. I think he's one of the best screen runners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-studied-tom-cruise-running-in-all-the-mission-impossibles-i-think/)

[Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/)

> [When I didn't have a family, I was much more of a workaholic. I still like to work, but I also want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/when-i-didn-t-have-a-family-i-was-much-more-of-a-workaholic-i-still/)

[Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/)

> [My own parents were touchy-feely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/my-own-parents-were-touchy-feely/)

[Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/)

> [I just watched Paul Michael Glaser. He was the reason I wanted to do the movie because as a kid I was such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-just-watched-paul-michael-glaser-he-was-the-reason-i-wanted-to-do/)

[Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/)

> [Whatever talent I had, I'm sure it helped that my parents were in the business and that I grew up around actors, comedians and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/whatever-talent-i-had-i-m-sure-it-helped-that-my-parents-were-in-the/)

[Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/)

> [I'm Jewish, but my mom's Catholic, so the guilt area is covered. I have the highest expectations, along with the lowest. I tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-m-jewish-but-my-mom-s-catholic-so-the-guilt-area-is-covered-i-have/)

[Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/)

> [I think most politicians could take a dodgeball in the face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-think-most-politicians-could-take-a-dodgeball-in-the-face/)

[Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/)

> [I don't play hockey at all. I'm not comfortable on skates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-don-t-play-hockey-at-all-i-m-not-comfortable-on-skates/)

[Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/)

> [Nobody makes me bleed my own blood - nobody!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/nobody-makes-me-bleed-my-own-blood-nobody/)

[Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/)

> [Moisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/moisture-is-the-essence-of-wetness-and-wetness-is-the-essence-of/)

[Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/)

> [I think people will be curious to see what I can do as a dramatic actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-think-people-will-be-curious-to-see-what-i-can-do-as-a-dramatic/)

[Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/)

> [I don't have a burning desire to be taken seriously as an actor. I don't have a master plan in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-don-t-have-a-burning-desire-to-be-taken-seriously-as-an-actor-i-don/)

[Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/)

> [I'm not an expert on the Malaysian sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-m-not-an-expert-on-the-malaysian-sense-of-humor/)

[Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/)

> [I love history. I'm very interested by it and I think it's great to have a movie that brings it alive in a way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-love-history-i-m-very-interested-by-it-and-i-think-it-s-great-to/)

[Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/)

[Explore all 91 Ben Stiller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/)

## More Confidence quotes

> [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [I was just confident my work was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunny-yeager/i-was-just-confident-my-work-was-good/)

[Bunny Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunny-yeager/)

> [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/)

[Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/)

> [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/)

[Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/)

[Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/)

> [Confidence comes from cutting yourself some slack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/confidence-comes-from-cutting-yourself-some-slack/)

[Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/)

> [I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/i-would-rather-regret-the-things-that-i-have-done-than-the-things/)

[Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/)

> [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/)

[Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/)

> [Get to know yourself well enough to not only expect, but also control, your response to the unexpected challenges in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/get-to-know-yourself-well-enough-to-not-only-expect-but-also-control/)

Senoraroy

> [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [I look for someone who has confidence. Also someone whose energetic, cause I'm NOT that energetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-look-for-someone-who-has-confidence-also-someone-whose-energetic/)

[Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/)

> [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/)

[Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/)

> [I was very confident on the stage, and I stood out in a red gown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/i-was-very-confident-on-the-stage-and-i-stood-out-in-a-red-gown/)

[Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/)

> [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

[Browse all 11,290 Confidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Ive heard people say that the older you get, the less you understand. In your youth you have that confidence, sort of blind confidence which allows you to take chances and do things you might not do when youre older because you know better.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ben Stiller"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/ive-heard-people-say-that-the-older-you-get-the-less-you-understand/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Confidence"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/ive-heard-people-say-that-the-older-you-get-the-less-you-understand/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/ben-stiller-7406_confidence_ive-heard-people-say-that-the-older-you_2440497.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/ben-stiller-7406_confidence_ive-heard-people-say-that-the-older-you_2440497.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/ben-stiller-7406_confidence_ive-heard-people-say-that-the-older-you_2440497.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Ive heard people say that the older you get, the less you understand. In your youth you have that…” — Ben Stiller",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ben Stiller",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Ive heard people say that the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/ive-heard-people-say-that-the-older-you-get-the-less-you-understand/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/ive-heard-people-say-that-the-older-you-get-the-less-you-understand/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
